Just for some people out there interested in how local authorities in Russia deal with the financial crisis.

Here is the briefing. Most of the politicians on local level do not recognize the world’s financial situation. I’d even say they’re purposefully ignoring (at least making it seem so) the obvious. You think I’m being mean? Sarcastic? Well, see for yourself.

Here is the recent (dated June 9th 2009) article from well-known Russian newpaper ‘Commercent’: ‘Noginsky County Has Brought the Financial Crisis to an End.’ Noginsk is a small town in Moscow region, the kind of place where local politicians do their best to jump into the big game.

While trying to be noticed all means are good! This time the Head of Noginsk county, Mr. Laptev, issued a decree, where words ‘financial crisis’ were literally banned from speech of all local authorities. Preambule states that ‘…all the nescessary steps were taken to create a financially prospective environment on the territory of Noginsk County…’ I live in Noginsk county, and I’d effectively argue this statement, still not going to.

Instead, let’s see what’s in the decree. The main idea is that financial hardships are only thoughts in some panicy heads, not the real situation around. Now not only I myself, but almost anyone in the whole interdependent world, would effectively argue this idea!

Apparently, Mr. Laptev doesn’t recognize the free speech right either, as the decree conflicts with it in the very essence by mentioning a possible punishment for using the ‘bad’ words. Some officials might even get fired! Mr. Laptev compares that to a ‘dress code’: ‘…I prohibit wearing short skirts at the department building, this is of the same sort…’ No comments.

One last thing to mention. Mr. Laptev reserves the right to supervise the implementation of the decree all to himself…